Sebastian climbed back down, stopping in front of me. “That will not happen.” He gripped my face with his hands. “I will notletthat happen. I promise you.” The assertiveness of his voice almost reassured me.
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because I know my father. I know his tactics. And we have the upper hand here. Beaumont doesn't know that we know his plan. We can make it to Craterra before his army gets there,” he explained.
I gulped and nodded, but another worry appeared. If he told his father about the prophecy, that could change things drastically. If King Hawthorne knew that I may die, he still might choose to follow through with Beaumont’s request.
Sebastian sensed my concern before I voiced it, and easedmy nerves without me even having to ask. “I'm not going to tell him about anything more than the attack on Craterra. The prophecy stays between us.”
I nodded again and stepped onto the staircase after him. He unlocked my door for me, ushering me inside of my room. “Stay here. Keep the door locked. Don't open it for anyone unless it's me or Sawyer. Understand?”
“There must be something I can do besides sitting here. Please let me help,” I begged, though I already knew the answer.
He pulled me into an embrace, shaking his head. “No. I’m sorry.”
I sighed and wrapped my arms around him, allowing the scent of him to absorb into my clothes. He kissed the top of my head.
“I'll see you in the morning then?” I looked up from his chest.
Sebastian smiled sadly. “Goodnight, Maeve.” He put his lips on mine in a much too brief kiss before shutting the door behind him.
Displeased with his quick exit, I couldn't help but feel like this was not a goodnight, but instead was a goodbye.
The first thingI did when morning arrived was disregard the promise I made to Sebastian.
I would only go down the hall to his room. I just needed to know how it went with his father.
As soon as I stepped into the hall, I was met by Sawyer, lounging against the wall across from me.
“What are you doing?” I gave him a sideways glance.
“He’s not there.” He gestured his head at Sebastian's room.
My mouth dried up as Sawyer stepped towards me.He observed me, so much being said between us without needing a single word.
“How long?” I asked.
He raised a brow.
I don't think he realized that this news didn't shock me. “How long will he be gone?” I clarified.
Sawyer looked down at his feet, exhaling a breath of remorse. “I don't know.”
I bit my lip and nodded in denial, fighting a battle with the dampness in my eyes.
Sawyer reached into his pocket, grabbing his handkerchief and holding it out towards me. I waved his hand away. I wasn't going to cry. I wouldn't let myself.
“About one-hundred troops, including half of Caelestis’ head soldiers, were sent to Craterra early this morning,” he informed me, stuffing the handkerchief back in his pocket.
“You're still here, so who else went?”
“Jocelyn went, Kohen stayed.” He named a few others, but I didn't care to listen.
I sighed in relief, looking back at the wall. Good. Pia would be a mess if Kohen had to go. I sensed the sadness in Sawyer’s voice when he said Jocelyn's name. I wanted to tell him that she’d be okay, but I didn't like to promise things that only the gods had a say in.
My cheeks filled with air, holding it for a while before I blew it out with an unplanned laugh. What were the damn odds? Sebastian and I finally were together, and then he got sent on a combat assignment with no indication of when he’d be back. Better yet, the reason he even went was because of me.
I wondered how much Sawyer really knew. “Did you see him? Before he left?”
